Self-locking seal



G. H. FORD.

SELF LOHCKING SEAL.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9.19m.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

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WITNESSES ATTORNEY r a transverse portion 6 which GEORGE H. FORD, OF NEEDLES, CALIFORNIA.

SELF-LOCKING SEAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 27, 1920.

Application filed February 9, 1918. Serial No. 216,315.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. FORD, acitizen of the United States, residing at Needles, in the county of San Bernardino and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Self-Locking Seals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in self-locking seals.

The invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a perspective view of a car seal constructed and arranged in accordance with my invention and showing the same locked.

Fig. 2 is a detailed elevation of the strip, showing the construction of the ends thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the seal, with the ends of the strip locked.

Fig. 4% is a transverse sectional view of the same.

Fig. 5 is an elevation of the same with one of the casing members removed.

In accordance with my invention I provide a seal strip 1 of tin or other suitable sheet metal which is of suitable length, width and gage and one end of which is pointed as at 2. Near said end is a longi-. tudinally arranged locking tongue 3 and a slot 1 which slot has a longitudinal portion 5 on the inner side of the tongue and extends to one side of the strip and across the end of the tongue 3. Said tongue is turned at a slight angle to the plane of said end of the strip. At a suitable distance from the slot 4 is a lag 7 which is struck up from the strip. Near the opposite end of the strip is a longitudinally arranged tongue 8 and a slot 9 which is similar to the slot 4. The said end of the strip is provided with outstanding lugs 10 which are struck up therefrom at opposite sides and which are arranged a suitable distance from the opposite ends of the slot 9.

I also provide a casing 11 to connect the ends of the seal strip and secure the same with their tongues in interlocked relation and prevent the disengagement of the inter locking tongues. The casing comprises a pair of members 12, 13 which are oblong rectangular of form, are each struck up from a piece of sheet metal, and each of which is 'open on one side. The member 12 has in its ends recesses 1 1 for the reception of the ends of the seal strip and outwardly turned longitudinal flanges 15. The member 13 has longitudinal side flanges 16 which are wider than those of the other member and which are initially bent at right angles at points a suitable distance from their outer edges to receive the flanges of the other member. i,

To secure the seal the members 12, 13 of the casing are placed on opposite sides of the seal strip and the flanges of the member 13 are bent inwardly and over the flanges of the member 12 and crimped by means of a suitable implement so that the said members of the casing are securely locked together and beyond the possibility of their being detached from each other without showing that the seal has been tampered with. To lock the seal the opposite end of the seal strip is inserted in the casing until the interlocking tongues of the seal strip pass each other for a suitable distance so that when the end of the seal is pulled rearwardly the seal tongues interlock and prevent opening without detection. The casing by inclosing the interlocked end portions of the seal strip effectually prevents access to the interlocking tongues 3, 8 so that the ends of the seal strip can not become detached. The lug 7 prevents the end of the seal strip from being slipped too far from the casing when the seal is fastened. The lugs 10 engage the end walls of the casing, as shown and prevent the strips from being pulled out.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would have it understood that changes may be made in the form, proportion and construction of the several parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A car seal comprising a two-part casing having alined slots in the end walls thereof,

a strip having a longitudinally disposed tongue ad acent each end and at one of the longitudinal edges thereof, said tongues being adapted to interlock when both ends of the stripare positioned within the casing, and upstruck lugs formed at the opposite longitudinal edges of the strip adjacent one of the tongues, said lugs being arranged to engage the end walls of the casing to anchor one end of the strip in the casing during 10 the assemblage of the parts.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEORGE H. FORD. 

